Browsing by Author "Ogibi, Joshua Dickson"

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    Social media as a source of self-identity formation : challenges and opportunities for youth ministry
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2015-12) Ogibi, Joshua Dickson; Weber, Shantelle; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Theology. Dept. of Practical Theology and Missiology.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Social media are technological media (websites) that create a digital environment for networking between network users who interface and share information with each other. Social media network users use these media on different platforms, such as social networking sites – to share information and network with offline and online friends; wikis – to share, modify, create and disseminate information; and blogs – to create content and interface with network followers. These three platforms of social media disseminate information that influences the self-identity formation of young people. The self-identity formation of young people is both discovered and developed. The discovery of self-identity entails an understanding of humanity as God’s created being – created for His purpose and mission. The developed identity entails that young people go through different phases of life that shape their self-identity formation. These different phases are influenced by different social institutions such as social media. Social media as a source of information dissemination influence young people’s self-identity by creating a digital continent where all sorts of uncensored information is disseminated. This digital continent is used for whatsoever purpose. This fact – that social media create a complex digital continent that influences self-identity formation – is what led to this research study to investigate how do social media influence the self-identity formation of young people? To investigate this research question, this research employed conceptual analysis to give conceptual clarity of words and concept. In situating this research study within the field of practical theology, Osmer’s theological framework was adopted to understudy the research title, social media as a source of self-identity formation: Challenges and opportunities for youth ministry. Youth ministry guides young people to discover their self-identity in God and equips them to influence their friends (offline and online friends) and fellow network users. Social media as a digital continent also creates platforms for youth ministry to incarnate and influence young people’s self-identity by disseminating biblical and theological information that has the potential to help young people create a healthy self-identity formation.